Let's start by setting out some facts that every visitor planning a visit to Blue Duck should know about.
- It's isolated (yes, there's no cell-phone coverage), and quite difficult to get to. Of course that's a large part of the appeal, located as it is among the splendor of pristine New Zealand forests, rivers and trails.
- It's in the central North Island, in the Whanganui National Park. Before visiting Blue Duck, you might have visited the Waitomo Caves, Hobbiton and Rotorua. You might have also experienced the one-day Tongariro Crossing Trail, or sailed on Lake Taupo.
- To give one example of how to get there (you might like to have Google Maps available here), let's assume you've reached Turangi, located at the southern end of Lake Taupo. From Turangi, follow Highway 47 until you reach the small town of National Park. From National Park, head north on Highway 4 until you reach Ōwhango and the turnoff to Blue Duck Station. Total driving time from Turangi to Blue Duck is around 3-hours.
- The final stretch from Ōwhango to Blue Duck Station is not sealed for part of the way, so take care.
The accommodation options range from basic to 4-star, but all are very clean and comfortable. Our customers always comment that the bed mattresses are some of the most comfortable they have ever slept on.
They also comment on the friendliness of the staff and their passion for the jobs they do.
Here's how the Blue Duck website explains their role - "The station’s core values are to conserve its endangered wildlife, increase the health of native bush and rivers, and preserve the history of the area, while educating visitors about the endangered New Zealand blue duck, other native species and local history.
If you would like to know more, watch this video about Blue Duck Station.
The Blue Duck Station website.
There are 6,000 sheep on the Blue Duck Station.
A view back to the mountains where Peter Jackson filmed some of his 'Lord of The Rings' stories and where you might have spent the previous day walking the Tongariro Crossing.
If you would like to incorporate Blue Duck Station into your New Zealand vacation, contact one of the crew at New Zealand Vacations - jane@newzealandvacations.com or our US office at (805) 451-9325
